Tania Mallet, who played the role of Tilly Masterson in Goldfinger, has died at the age of 77, the film franchise's producers have confirmed.

In a statement on Twitter, they said: "We are very sorry to hear that Tania Mallet who played Tilly Masterson in GOLDFINGER has passed away. Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this sad time."Mallet was born in Blackpool in 1941 and starred in the iconic Bond film opposite Sean Connery in 1964. Mallet started out as a teenage model and became a famous face during the 50s and 60s.

She lost out on appearing in From Russia, With Love after someone sent her modeling shots to Cubby Broccoli, who produced the films at the time but was later cast in the part of Tilly in Goldfinger. Her character was out for revenge after Auric Goldfinger killed her sister by covering her in gold body paint, but later met her fate at the hands of Bond villain Oddjob.

Mallet criticized filmmakers on her Bond film, calling the pay "dreadful", and was reportedly offered £50 a day for her appearance, but managed to negotiate her fee to £150 a day - the same as she received for her modeling work.